Eleven

I can't believe it's already been 11 years. Time flies....best decision I could have ever made. Right man, right place, right time.  I know people say you can be happy with more than one person, but not this happy. He's my one. Love you babe. 

Our anniversary is on December 22nd, during all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, so I'm so glad my man always remembers to make the night special. We had a wonderful time at EVE, an awesome local restaurant. It was delish! We also loved asking our waiter to guess what anniversary it was for us...we told him to guess on the high end, and he said, "3?" Not a whole lot of 31 and 33 year olds here celebrating 11 years together! He got a nice tip for acting positively floored and making us feel young! Plus, Mike gets better looking each year...I'm even liking the silver peeking through his dark hair!

 Jace was dying to take this picture! :)

Here's to at least 65 more!

Christmas!!!

This is the first year that we've spent all of Christmas without family. I think we all longed for home and family a bit, but we did pretty well and had a blast together. 

Our Christmas Eve began with a live nativity in downtown Ann Arbor. The kids loved the real animals, especially the camel. It was a nice way to focus our holiday on the real meaning of Christmas.

Then we headed to the church to eat Christmas Eve dinner with some good friends. Thank goodness for friends who aren't visiting family...it would have been awfully lonely without such good people to join us.

They indulged us and played the candy bar game with us! It's always a hit.

Any chance I will ever get a picture without one of my boys (the oldest one included) making some goofy face?

We shared a sweet Christmas story about a "lost sheep", then Melissa brought out her Christmas puppets and we did the nativity story with them. It was a really fun twist on our old tradition. 

Mike read the Christmas story to us from Luke 2...check out the Bible. What is wrong with this picture?

Jammies! We love all getting into our Christmas PJs together. And, yes, we are ALL matching! Red and black buffalo plaid for everyone! We also got to skype with our families. Love technology. The kids were SO excited for Santa to come!

Christmas!

The obligatory stairs picture. We told everyone they had to sleep until 6. As the clock was changing numbers from 5:59 to 6:00 our 3 little munchkins walked into our room, jumping up and down saying, "It's Christmas! It's Christmas!!"

Presents!!! The kids sure got a haul this year. Maybe it was because all the presents had to be sent to us, so they got everything all at once. Grandma and Grandpa sent a Wii!!! That should really help with our long Michigan winters!! They boys couldn't believe how lucky they were. They also got cute clothes that didn't quite muster the same excitement.

Mimi and Papa sent a guitar for Jace, drums and Pixos for Parker, and a movie and Playmobil set for James. Exactly what they all wanted. Plus, clothes they tried to be as excited about.

 Here's James with his favorite presents: CANDY!

All the boys got spy stuff, swords, guns and pirate stuff from Santa, plus blanket animals a game for the Wii, bean bags and lots of books. Mom and dad got them lots of other fun stuff: tools, building stuff, games a toy ship...and they LOVED opening the presents they got for each other from the dollar store and from cousins. They were so excited about everything. Can you say spoiled?

And perhaps the most favorite, smaller gift? Bayblades! They played with them all day long. Nice one Uncle Bryce and Aunt Lora. You guys were a hit!

Apparently Christmas was much too fun to stop for many pictures. Mike and I were also treated ridiculously well by both sides of the family. I got a new camera!! And I can't wait to use it. I'm thrilled! I've been dying to be able to take better pictures. Plus gift certificates to all my favorite shopping spots. Yeah! I can't wait to use them. Mike also got me a really awesome canvas, I'll have to take a picture of. I loved it! Mike got LOTS of winter clothes and long underwear which he needs as he waits at the bus stop each morning. Plus some U of M wear and a few tools and gadgets. 

I loved watching the boys give us their presents. They were so excited about it. Thank you to EVERYONE for creating such a special Christmas for our family. We feel ridiculously blessed and totally undeserving, but grateful.

On Christmas Day we headed to my grandma's cousin that she hasn't even seen for 55 years. There we met all kinds of extended family we never knew existed. It was so kind of them to take us in for the holiday. Can't believe I never took a picture!

Three cheers for a WONDERFUL Christmas!

A Little More December

U of Michigan basketball game 

One snowy December Saturday we headed out to the U of Mich basketball game. It was a blast, and we won!  Looks like we have a lot of sports in our future. The boys decided coats were unnecessary and hooded sweatshirts would be fine...after all, it was a balmy 27 degrees with a chilly wind to boot and snowflakes twirling around. I asked 3 times for coats to be put on, no one needed them. 

You should have seen the looks people gave me as we walked to the stadium, me bundled like an Eskimo (puffy coat to my knees, fuzzy boots, gloves, hat) my kids in jeans and a sweatshirt and sneakers and positively shivering. At a crosswalk I had to announce that they were learning a lesson about listening to their mom and wearing a coat in the winter. So far, they always put their coat on.

Sledding!!!
One of the best things about snow is sledding. Our family had a ball together after Mike took his last final as we headed to the snow covered golf course for some serious fun. We all zoomed down big and small hills together. So fun to have 3 tough, daring boys to do things like this with!

 

Gingerbread House hunt in Plymouth

Ann Arbor is a bit low on fun, Christmassy activities, so we headed one town over to the darling, quaint Plymouth. The downtown stores decorate gingerbread houses and you can go on a search through the city and vote on your favorite.

 We stopped at a cupcake shop for a little sweet treat before getting started.

 Then ate burgers after looking at the lighted trees and cute houses and shops.

Mike couldn't leave without getting a little something chocolate at a local chocolate shop...the boys thought it was a good idea too!

 Then a little posing at the cut outs...who can resist sticking their head through one of these? Obviously not us.

Wonder where they get the tongue thing? It was a wonderfully fun night together. What a great December!

Christmas Card Catastrophe!

Here is our 2010 card! If you didn't get one, don't feel bad...it was my fault and an absolute catastrophe! Here's the story:

Because of our big move, I really wanted to get cards out early this year, so everyone would have our new address and get the little update I had printed on the back. Since we are on a student budget, I also wanted to do this as cheaply as possible. I ordered my cards early on a crazy deal at winkflash...I printed them postcard style so it could include a printed update on our family on the back, plus I wouldn't have to pay full price for stamps. I thought I was prepared, savvy and brilliant. Not so fast.

I put 110 cards in the mail the day my family left, right after Thanksgiving. My mom took a few back home for me to distribute, but then decided to mail them. When she took them to the post office they basically said, These cards are a mess. I don't think they will make it to the final destination. There were multiple problems: the postcards were too big for a postcard stamp, they needed a real one. I had put a little PS on the card that said, "Don't forget to change our address..." then typed the address in. Unfortunately, that little PS was on the right hand side, so the computer read that address as the place it was supposed to be delivered to. 

So, a few days later, a few cards trickled back in. And every few days a few more showed up in my mailbox. I was devastated. You see, I love Christmas cards, they absolutely make my December and how was anyone to know where to send ours? Plus all that money and time....

Some people received theirs, no problem (Phew!), but each day when I went to the mailbox, there were a few more returned. I bought envelopes, and new stamps. My brilliant, super prepared, cost-saving idea had turned into a double cost nightmare. But, I'm pretty sure we were able to send most of the returned ones back out...unless it got lost somewhere in the mail system. 

So, yours may still be on it's way, or it may have missed you this year. So sorry! Please know that we love you and love keeping in touch. I'll be less prepared and more conventional next year. Hope you have a Very, Merry Christmas!!!

My merriest moment

Today was a busy day. I decided to take my kids to the mall to see Santa. Crazy? Yes. When we pulled into the parking lot I realized just how crazy the idea was. I could not see an empty parking spot. As I turned down one aisle, Jace yelled, "Mom, stop! There is a man back there in a wheelchair who needs help."

My reply was, "Jace, lots of people are in wheelchairs. They do just fine. He's fine. I didn't even see him." And I started to pull into a coveted parking space decently close to the doors.

Then, Jace again, "Mom, the spirit is telling me that we really should go help that man."

I paused. I know that one of the most important things Mike and I try to teach our boys is to listen to the good promptings we receive. It's extremely important to us that we raise children who care about others more than themselves. We would love it if their natural instincts were to always watch for those in need and be unafraid to help. So, here I was in a tough spot. I really didn't want to help, I had Christmas plans, but how could I ignore my 7 year old who was demonstrating what we hope our children are learning in our home. So, I backed out of the parking spot and found one far away from the mall, but closer to the man.

We got out of the car and I finally saw what Jace was talking about. An older man was sitting in a wheelchair across the insanely busy street between a public health center and the mall. He was on one side, me and my 3 kids were on the other. There was no traffic light or crosswalk in eyesight. We walked as close as we could and I yelled across the traffic, "Do you need any help?"

He smiled a little and said he was just waiting for a break in the traffic so he could get across. I smiled and said okay, knowing that break would never come. I started to turn around to walk towards the mall, but something pulled me back, that unsettling feeling that there was more I should do. I watched the cars zooming by, with better things to do than stop for a man in a wheelchair. I stood, trying to think, "How can I get traffic to stop?" I wasn't about to parade my 3 kids into oncoming traffic, but I didn't know what else to do.

Then, like 2 little angels in blue and maize, out came women from the health center. I'd already watched 3 people cross quickly without bothering to help the man in the wheelchair. But these women came out of their offices and literally stopped traffic to get the man across the street safely. We met them on the other side.

We wheeled D out of the cold and into the mall. He was kind, polite and grateful for the help. We found out he'd been waiting for a ride for over 2 hours and was getting hungry, so he was going to the mall to see if he could find chips or something to tide him over until he got home. My kids were sweet and talked with him a bit as we asked him about his life and family.

We found the food court together, bought him some nachos and left him with a little money, as it was obvious he had nothing but a few coins. He shook hands with my children and gave them a snaggle-tooth smile. He said to them, "You are good boys. I bet you are on the honor roll at school, right?" He was so cheerful and happy and giving of his love and energy even though I cannot imagine that his life warrants much tangible happiness. We asked if there was anything else we could do, to which he replied, "I'm just going to sit in here, eat and relax for awhile until my ride comes." He thanked us and blessed us as we walked away.

We still went to see Santa, but it all felt a little different. In fact, Jace didn't ask for anything, just that everyone would have a nice Christmas.

I am incredibly grateful for a sensitive son who listens to the voice of the spirit when it speaks to him. I'm so glad I listened to his little voice. This special Christmas moment reiterated to me that God has no hands but ours. That we have to look outside ourselves and that by doing that, we find real joy and happiness. It was perhaps, the merriest moment of my Christmas.

Pardon the Interruption

Remember that fun Christmas chain? We had a little interruption...Mr. Parks got sick, I mean really sick. Puking every 15-30 minutes for 20 hours, then on and off for another 4 days. This little guy has no fat storage to keep him going. It was so sad. He was in serious pain. So, instead of wild Christmas festivities, everything was put on hold and instead we watched a lot of TV, ate a lot of saltines, and just felt sorry for our little guy.

Parker is such a champ too. Trying so hard to be brave, feel better and be helpful. My heart ached for him and his little body. At one point he turned to me with tears in his eyes, hanging over the toilet and in a sweet, sad voice said, "Mom, can't to do something? Can you find something to make me feel better? It hurts so much!"

I felt so helpless, willing to do anything to take his pain away, but I knew I couldn't. I'd been where he was before and understood what he was going through. But I knew his body had to rid itself of whatever was making him so ill...there was no magic fix.  I knew he'd feel better, at some point. I reflected on how painful it must be to have a child that physically suffers often, and then perhaps because of the Christmas season, I thought about how our Savior must feel when our lives are painful and hard. He's been there, He understands and wants so much to take our pain from us, but He can't take it anymore than I could take Parker's from him. He can support us, hold our hands and help us through, but take it away, He cannot. He knows that we must work our way through it and that it will, in time,  get better.

I'm grateful for what I've had to work through and the lessons I've learned from it. I'm grateful my Savior is always there buoying me up. I'm grateful for generally healthy children and that we all feel better right before Christmas!

O Christmas Tree

It's interesting to me that you can always find the things you'll never use, like 3 rubbermaids full of Christmas clutter that I despise. I only own a few Christmas decor items that really like, including but not limited to: my Little People Nativity set, my Nutcrackers from Europe, our wooden manger, and my tree ornaments are decent (oh, I love our other nativity sets too, they are just breakable, so they are unusable in a small place without high shelves to put them on). However, the manger and ornaments are no where to be found. Can't imagine where those 2 things could have gone!

So, while we decked our halls our tree stayed empty. I wandered through stores, longing for the fabulous decor that seemed to be everywhere. Even at cheap spots, after I did the math, to outfit our small tree would have meant no presents for someone this year.

My problem is, I usually know exactly the look I want and I'm pretty unwilling to settle. I'd rather things just stay undone than done in a way I don't enjoy. But, we were having a few parties at our place this year and the tree must have decor! On the other hand, I'm not crafty and few projects I take on turn out well (right, friends?). But, I had an idea for our tree this year that was simple, fast, cheap and fun, and don't look too closely, because perfection is not my thing, but it actually turned out!

I bought white wooden letters that spelled HO! HO! HO! and modge podged  different green/white and red/white paper to them, then hung them with fun Christmas ribbon. I found 70 cent wooden snowflakes at Michael's and my boys and I painted and glittered them, which was a fun family project and one flake even doubled for a star, saving us $15.  I found little snowflakes for 40 cents at Michael's that were already glittery and hung them with minty dental floss, and filled in the holes with cheap candy canes I have to replace every few days, since they always seem to disappear. Then found an old, red favorite blanket that doubles well as a tree skirt and, there you have it...an entire tree for hardly and money at all! Plus, we got a Christmas craft out of it!

Let it Snow!!!

After a little "teaser" of a storm, we had our first real snow last Sunday! The boys were thrilled. It killed them that they were already in church clothes before they noticed the glorious, white, fluffy stuff everywhere. Then church, then dinner at a friend's. So, when we got home at 8pm, they begged to go out in it. We couldn't resist. They headed out our front door in the dark to build a snow fort.


They came in happily exhausted with pink cheeks and frozen lips and I loved kissing every one of them!
Earlier that week they brought the sleds out for a little down hill fun with barely an inch on the ground.


If snow stays this much fun, winter might not be so bad! Glad I'm here when I have boys old enough to put their own snow clothes on. What a blessing. Though I have to admit, not very excited to drive carpool in it tomorrow morning :(!

Powerful Music

One of the best things about Christmas is the music. I love music...truly, truly love it. I wish I had a talent for it. Music has been a big part of our Christmas this year.

Handel's Messiah Mike and I had the privilege of attending the entire opera this year. It was incredible. I was touched as hundreds of audience members felt the holiness and joy of the story of Christ, his birth and resurrection. It was a beautiful moment. Then, as I was reading this month's Ensign, there was a specific article on Handel and I loved it. Read it here

I especially enjoyed the way it ended:

In her epic poem, Aurora Leigh, Elizabeth Barrett Browning expressed the eloquent thought: UAdd a Note

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.⁹

May each of us unlatch our shoes and cram our labors with the essence of heaven, and may none of us be found plucking blackberries when a much grander, loftier work needs to be done.

And at the end of our divinely ordained days, may we be able to acknowledge, with Handel, that God has visited us in our labors.

Choir

I'm not a great singer, in fact, I'm probably barely a good one. I'm good enough to know when I sound bad and I can stay quiet. I originally joined choir so my husband would go. He's really great and needed, especially in a choir. Then I realized how much I enjoyed singing praises to our God and I started going for me. We have a really incredible choir here and an inspiring director. I've already learned so much from the people around me who generously allow me to sing with them and I look forward to it each week. I love learning how to do new things and I really love watching my husband share his talents. This past Sunday we sang in church and my belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the holiness of His mission to save us was reiterated to my soul through music. It was beautiful and moving and I loved, in a small way, being a part of that testimony.

Childrens' Voices

I work with the kids at church in my Primary calling. I love being in there and especially love listening to them sing. They sang in church this past Sunday too...Away in a Manger. When Jace sat down next to me, he was beaming and leaned over to say, "Mom, I really feel the spirit right now." I did too. I was touched by their little voices singing about what they believe in and I love how music simply teaches truth. We've had a wonderful time this season singing along to just about every Christmas carol at home and in the car...Parker and James can't wait to see what the next song will be, even if Jace says, "Please, can we listen to a rockin' song instead of Christmas songs????" I promised him, after December 25th, we can be done, but positively not until then!